The printer’s manuscript has the word behold, but the 1830 edition lacks it. The original manuscript is not extant here for over five lines of text, so it is difficult to determine
whether 𝓞 had the behold. Either reading is theoretically possible, but the occurrence of behold seems reasonable because in this year something new happened (“there were great
signs given unto the people and wonders”). Elsewhere in the original text, there are 24 occurrences of “but it came to pass” and 4 of “but behold it came to pass” (Mosiah 18:32,
Alma 52:15, Alma 53:16, and Helaman 11:29). So the occurrence of behold is quite possible here in Helaman 16:13. In the history of the text, there are no clear examples where
behold was ever added to the text. There are, on the other hand, numerous examples in the manuscripts where the scribes initially omitted behold:
- 2 Nephi 30:1 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓟)
- for [NULL >+ behold 1|behold ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] except ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall all likewise perish
- Jacob 6:1 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓟)
- and now [NULL >+ behold 1|behold ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] my brethren as I said unto you that I would prophesy …
- Alma 5:16 (scribe 2’s initial error in 𝓟)
- for [ your > NULL 1| ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] behold your works have been the works of righteousness
- Alma 10:10 (scribe 2’s initial error in 𝓟)
- for [NULL > bhold 1|behold ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] I say unto you that …
- Alma 32:41 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓞)
- and [it shall > behold 0|behold 1ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life
- Alma 38:8 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓞)
- but [ I >% NULL 0| 1ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] behold I did cry unto him
- Alma 44:18 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓞)
- yea [NULL > behold 0|behold 1ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] they were pierced and smitten
- Alma 46:21 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓞)
- when Moroni had proclaimed these words [NULL >+ behold 0|behold 1ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] the people came running together
- Helaman 8:28 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓟)
- and [NULL > behold 1|behold ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] they both belong to your secret band
- 3 Nephi 17:1 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓟)
- and he saith unto them [NULL > behold > Behold 1|Behold AHKLOPRST|behold BCDEFGIJMNQ] my time is at hand
- 3 Nephi 28:37 (scribe 2’s error in 𝓟)
- but [𝓢① NULL >+ 𝓢② behold 1|behold ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] since I wrote I have inquired of the Lord
- Mormon 7:1 (scribe 2’s error in 𝓟)
- and now [𝓢① NULL >+ 𝓢② behold 1|behold ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] I would speak somewhat unto the remnant of this people
In the two last cases, Oliver Cowdery supplied the behold when he proofed scribe 2’s work in 𝓟 against 𝓞.
There is one case in the printed editions where a compositor omitted behold:
- 1 Nephi 14:28 (error made by the 1840 compositor)
- and [behold 01ABDEFIJLMNOPQRST| CGHK] I Nephi am forbidden that I should write the remainder of the things which I saw
Although by a different compositor, this error supports the possibility that the 1830 compositor could have omitted behold in Helaman 16:13. On the other hand, there are no examples
where behold has ever been accidentally added to the text (except possibly in 𝓟 for Helaman 16:13). There are two manuscript cases, both in Oliver’s hand, that superficially appear to involve
adding behold, but in both these cases the nature of the error is different:
- Helaman 5:8 (a momentary skipping of my sons)
- and now [behold > NULL 1| ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] my sons behold I have somewhat more to desire of you
- Helaman 14:2 (a momentary switch in the word order for behold then)
- and [then > NULL 1| ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] behold [NULL > then 1|then ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] cometh the Son of God
Thus all the evidence argues for accidentally omitting behold, not adding it, which means that the original text (and 𝓞) probably had behold in Helaman 16:13. The critical text
will assume as much.
